Show-case



(No Model.) Y J. BUGKMASTBR.

SHOW CASE.

No. 409,009. Patented Aug'. 13,` 1889.

Egli t @3J-J5 l N. PI'RS, Phew-Llihngrzphr, Washington. D.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BUOKMASTER, OF ALTON, ILLINOIS.

SHOW-CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,009, dated August13, 1889.

Application filed March 19, 1889. Serial No. 303,835. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BUoKMAsTER, of Alton,in the county of Madisonand State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Show-Cases, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings,forming part of this speciiication.

This invention relates to a spring-opening show-case especially adaptedfor the exhibit of cigars, jewelry, dac., that require to be protectedfrom dust, dampness, or injury by any other means from exposure when noton exhibit, and yet quickly opened up for the inspection of customers;and the invention consistsI in features of novelty hereinafter fullydescribed, and pointed out in the claim.

Figure I is a top view of the show-case, showing the lids closed. Fig.II is a like view showing the lids elevated. Fig. III is an enlargedvertical end section taken on line III III, Fig. II, and shows theposition of the springs after the elevation of the lids. Fig. IV is anenlarged vertical end section taken on line IV IV, Fig. I, and shows theposition of the springs when the lids are closed; and Fig. V is anenlarged vertical detail section taken on line V V, Fig. I, and showsthe position of the springcatch and push-pin when the lids are locked intheir closed position.

Referring to the drawings, l represents the bottom, 2 the sides, and 3the ends, of the case.

4 is the cross-partition that divides the operative springchamber 5 fromthe exhibitchamber, and (5 is the cover of said spring'- chamber.

7 represents th e sectional folding lids, which are preferably of equaldiameter, the inner edges of which meet together when closed over themiddle of the case, the jointbetween them being surmounted bythe bead 8,that is secured to the lid that is last to close and overlaps themeeting edge of the other. The lids are respectively secured by hingesf) to the side boards of the case, and are limited in the extent oftheir opening' by the straps 10, which may be made out of any suitablematerial that is both stron g enough for the purpose and suflicientlytractable not to interfere with the folding and unfolding of the lids.

I will now' describe the toggle-spring device by which I effect theautomatic elevation of the lids when it is desired to exhibit thecontents of the case.

I1 represents two contract-in g spiral springs whose lower hooks l2 aresecured by staples or eyelet-screws 13 to the bottom of the case, insidethe operative spring-chamber 5. The surmounting hooks 14 of said spiralsprings engage through the perforations 15 with the inner ends of thefulcrum-levers 1G, which levers are hung on the fulcrum pins or boltsI7, that are secured in the partition-piece 4 and project inwardly intothe spring-chant ber. Vide washers 1S between said levers and the headsof the fulcrum-pins keep the levers from divergin g from their correctvertical movement. 'lhe outer ends of the fulcrum-levers v1G are seatedwithin the bifurcated forks I9 at the lower ends of the toggle-links 20,to which the lever is connected by the pivot pins or bolts 2l. The upperends of said toggle-links occupy pivotal seats between the perforatedlugs 22 of the brackets 23, to which the said toggle-links are connectedby the pivot pins or bolts 24. said brackets are secured to the underside of the lids 7 by the screws 25.

26 represents a spring snap-catch that is located inside thespring-chamber 5, the lower end of the strap of which spring-catch issecured to the end piece of the case inside the spring-chamber by screwsor nails 27, and the upper end of the strap is surmounted by the head ofthe catch 2S.

29 is a push-pin, which is secured to the strap of the spring snap-catchand projects through a perforation 30 in the said end piece of the casesul'iiciently, so that when pushed inward Hush with the outside of thecase it releases the spring-catch, which catch works freely in said spiingchamber and in the cutaway Sl in the cover of said chamber and thecut-away in the under side of the lid 7, that surmounts it.

A catch-plate 33, which is provided with an elongated slot 34, withinwhich the springcatch works, is secured by screws to the under side ofsaid lid around the cut-away 32.

The

IOO

The front edge of said plate projects under of the end piece Thisprojection of the edge of said plate, it willbe seen, forms a catchhold35, on which thehead of the catehlatches when the lids are closed in theposition shown in Figs. I, IV, and V. The lid which is provided with thestop-bead is latched by said catch, and said stop-bead holds down theadjacent lid.

New, when it is desired to open the case for exhibit, all that isnecessary to do is to operate the push-pin 9S), which unlatches thecatch, and the lids are instantly automatically thrown up by the actionof the springs, the fulcrn1nlevers, and toggle-links into the positionshown in Figs. II and III. To effect said opening when the lids' areunlatehed by pushing in the pin 29, that governs the springcatch, thespiral springs ll contract to their normal condition and draw downwardthe inner ends of the fulcruni-levers lli, which consequently throw uptheir outer ends, and by the toggle-links that connect said ends of thefulcrinn-levers with the lids the said lids are elevated.

The device is a convenience to both the salesmen and the inspector ofthe goods nnder exhibit, and is an advantageous set-ott` to a counterdisplay in jewelry, cigar, and. other stores where the goods require tobe protected from injury by dust, dampness, the.,

when not on exhibi t, and yet to be easily thrown open to exhibit at anytime required and allow many such eases to be speedily handled.

The partition 4, that incloses the springchamber, may, if desired, be alooking-glass, which is placed so as to reflect into theexhibit-receptacle ot the case, and which thus enhances the beauty ofthe exhibit.

The cases may be made of any material desired, and their lids made, asshown, with wooden frames inclosing glass panels or of any othersuitable construction.

I claim as my invention- In a show-case, the combination of the easewith its folding lids, the spring-chamber 5, the spring snap-catch 2G,the push-pin that operates said catch, the spiral springs ll, the futerom-levers lf3, the pins on which said levers fulcrunl, thetoggle-links 20, the means of connection of said spiral springs to thebot- 5o

